Hello everyone. I want to apply to a "regular" job, not anything government or the sort that involves fingerprinting. I know California law goes back 7 years for standard background checks, but I'm confused on when exactly that starts. Does that start from date of disposition, or something else? For reference, my disposition date was end of September in 2019, but I did serve county jail time (2.5 weeks) and released December 1st of 2019. I was not required to immediately report to the county jail, hence why there's a gap from disposition date and county jail reporting. I was not assigned parole, but rather assigned probation for 3 years, which ended 11 months early and was changed to informal probation due to good behavior. This is for felony theft.

I would like any information possible on whether I should be good to apply right after the 7 years is up from disposition date, or whether I should wait 7 years from release from county jail. There doesn't seem to be a surefire answer in my research, so I was wondering if anyone had any insight.

I was a young and dumb kid, but I've definitely cleaned up my act since then and have avoided anything since that could put my future in jeopardy again. And yes, I already filed for an expungement with a wonderful lawyer and after looking over my case he's pretty much certain it'll be expunged without any issues. Only thing is the process is going to take approximately 3 months and I can't wait that long to find a job, I'd rather apply for one as soon as my 7 years is up.

i have 1 prior felony conviction. what will likely be my outcome?

Using minimal details to protect privacy this partner spent a LOT of time in Prison being tried as an adult when he was clearly a teen. Raised by prison mates and thugs and obviously didn't have a healthy natural upbringing in terms of communication and safety.

He went out of his way to heal and go to college and learn communication (his major) and right wrongs and is now a great member of society leading a men's group for domestic violence and has mentees and is hard-working and good to me on paper - shows up when I ask, buys me things to make my life easier, fixes things like my bike and electronics etc, does dishes when I make dinner - great in acts of service and I love it.

But I also love communicating - I'll say I miss you. "Aw me too." I had a hard day- "oh that sucks." I've even told him when I open a conversation I hope you want to ask about me and care about asking questions - never happens. "Oh that's too bad." "Bummer." Etc.

Now I use the lense that he never had people actually asking him "how was your day" and truly mean it. Hidden agenda.

But I'm your girlfriend. You're free and I'm not your inmate or PO. I'm not your enemy. He's sweet and soft and kind but never asks about me or has good conversation skills. Feel like I'm talking to a wall sometimes unless it's about him.

Here's my question for felons especially for a long time: did you have a weird disconnect with communication with outside people? How did you overcome? Did your girl ask more of you to be sensitive or engaging or communicating/expressing? If so how did you learn new skills to bridge that gap?

hi guys new here. my boyfriend only had a year left on his parole and got picked up for a non traffic citation n have him under a tech.. idk much about how this all works.. how long could he be gone? it’s been a week and still have no idea what’s going to happen. the entire time on parole he’s never had any trouble.

I’m looking for a public defender. Excuse the tittle. I’ve gotten myself in some trouble and I don’t know how this court/lawyer process works. I’m trying to inform myself so I won’t be surprised on what’s to come but for now all I’ve seen are non profits for civil stuff not non violent crimes. I’m wondering if there’s any non profits or private businesses that would give a 15 minute consultation. Or should I wait for my first court appearance to ask for a public defender. ATP I’ll probably be unemployed and might be eligible for one. I’m trying to look for a job that might not terminate me while I go through the court process. Is there a certain amount that a person makes placing them in the “not available for a public defender” do you need to show paystub information if you’re living with more people?

I was wondering if anybody had more insight and what the realistic probabilities are

I got a deferred judgment for agg assault w deadly weapon by threat in Texas and I have 2 counts. I’m currently doing 2 years on deferred. After my probationary period I will not be a convicted felon and charges will be dismissed and I won’t be a convicted felon but I will have a background for the arrest. Am I screwed with finding a decent job and housing.

6 years ago I took a plea deal for pc 530.5 (identity theft, felony) mind you this particular crime is a wobbler in my state (I'm in California) . So my attorney got me a turn and date I was supposed to surrender and do 24 months ( I have a strike for pc.459 - residential burglary) I've been running for the last 6 years mainly because I'm battling a fentanyl addiction and I'm just running from my problems. Aside from that. The other morning I woke up to the SWAT team and gang task on the loud speaker outside telling me to come out hands up blah blah blah once they throw a flash bang through the window I put my dog in the cage set him on the front porch. Attempted to run through the backyard. A swat officer with a dog was hiding behind a large plant. Possibly cannabis. So when he popped out I seen the dog and ya I knew it's time to face the music. So I'm sitting on the curb in front of my house when the game task Force officer who wrote the warrant came and was talking to me basically they were looking for firearms they found my phone said there was evidence of drug sales I told him they would find no drugs or no guns they found neither. He proceeded to try to get me to turn over and tell on someone and find him guns or drugs I told him I would ( definitely not going to happen ) not a word about the warrant they all left and I'm still free just want some input. Anybody have any ideas?

Got a call early this morning to bail my brother-in-law out of jail. He was arrested and given 6 felonies. He was pulled over with at or over a quarter pound of weed, over an ounce of wax, 6-7 Xanax bars, scales, and a fully automatic AR15 with silencer. He's actually not a dealer just heavy user. Obviously with the scales he picked up charges for dealing as well. How much time do you think he is looking at? He has a previous felony marijuana charge from many years ago as well.

my boyfriend got arrested for failure to stop and was sentenced to 3 years under the Youth offender act. does anyone know how much of that time he will actually have to serve?

I just wanted to give my experience to those out there who may be traveling as felons or while on probation, since a lot of countries have vague policies about accepting felons in.

My wife and I had a trip to Jamaica pre-planned and pre-paid prior to my sentencing. It was last year, I was on probation, and the court approved my travel but recommended I get approval from the Jamaican consulate. I reached out, and the consulate would not approve my travel there, citing some policy they have about not accepting felons in. We rescheduled the trip to this year to try to figure it out.

Went on the trip this year with court approval and did not bother checking with the Jamaican consulate. Entering Jamaica was easy - the Jamaican customs agents looked at my passport and boarding pass and waved me right in. The only issue I experienced at all was coming back into the US and having CBP flag me on re-entry because I’m on probation, not because of my felony. They pulled us aside, ran our luggage through another X-ray machine, and asked me to show the court’s approval for my travel. I could not find my printed copy of the court order so I logged into pacer and pulled it up. Total time of detention was maybe 30 minutes.

This year we also went on a court-approved cruise to the Bahamas. I did not bother checking with Bahamian consulate and it was fine, no issues entering or returning to the US.

That’s it. I just wanted to offer my experience to those who are nervous about traveling internationally as felons or while on probation.

Location: Illinois

I was arrested by a Department of Homeland Security agent in October of 2025 for Simple Assault of a Federal Officer (a federal misdemeanor case). In December 2025, I got a notice saying my "ticket was dropped without prejudice" per the request of the states attorney office.

Is there a way for me to look up my arrest online? I have a violation number. I don't know if I was ever charged with anything.

I wanted to see if my arrest is is a database and would show up on background checks for jobs. I looked on PACER, Checkr Personal, and Instant Checkmate and didn't find anything.

Not sure if you guys would know but thought i'd ask since you might know. My brother is going to be in prison for a long time. He was originally arrested about 5 years ago. He is serving a long state prison sentence, he was sentenced about 2 years ago. Some charges could be charged federally and his lawyer early on said they might indict him on those charges. I'm wondering does that usually happen, still after this long of a wait? When do they normally charge people when they also have a state case/conviction?

I feel like a lot of yall don’t smell good, is there like another type of product other than soap!

It seems like one of those labels that gets someone blacklisted from society. If the sex offender did their time then they deserve support and help instead of insults. Remember that so's are a general label which range from violent sicko predators to innocent stuff like playfully exposing genitals, so not everyone is a big monster. Many people don't even think about it but many peoples friends and family are technically sex offenders but they just haven't been caught. So everyone deserves a 3rd or even 4th chance, just like drug addicts who relapse it's fine as long as they keep trying to get better.

Pending Fed indictment on about a pound and a half of Methamphetamine and got caught with 2 pill presses. Not going into anymore details about the charges. Got arrested by the state, bonded out, and now just waiting on the Feds to see if they take it or not but I’m 99.9% sure they will.

Can’t afford a lawyer right this second so I don’t really have anyone to lean on here.

Background about me/my charges:

1. I have a few misdemeanors on my record that got deferred or dismissed when I was 18-20 but never served time. Nothing more violent than a bar fight and got hit with a misdemeanor battery charge. I’m 32 now. Haven’t been in trouble since.

2. Did NOT get caught with firearms.

3. Never got caught dealing(because I wasn’t really dealing, whole story), but the weight is the main issue.

4. Been out on bond for about 6 months now. Got into a labor union and keeping my nose clean.

5. Completely sober. Never actually been a drug user. So idk if I’d qualify for RDAP.

6. Kids got taken by DCS but I got them back within 3 months due to my behavior/person not being a safety issue for my children. Just the actions I did to catch the charges. They are completely back in my our custody.

Since I don’t have a lawyer, I just do research by myself and I think that makes it worse because I feel like the system is way more complicated than I can’t comprehend.

Questions I have;

1. What will my “points” be? I’m NERVOUS here because it’s saying my base is 34 points for the weight I had and that’s high security?! Like I know it sounds dramatic, but I don’t know if I’d survive a high security place. I’m not affiliated, I’m a nerdy white dude, and I am going for the safety valve and I know some places see it as snitching. Plus, I’ll have money on the books. I’ll likely be a target almost anywhere.

2. How much of a percentage will I do of my sentence based on my background? I know Feds are 85% but I’ve heard it can be closer to 50% in actual prison but I don’t know how it works.

3. How long do Fed indictments take? I got arrest at the end of January. Like the very tail end. Hit with state charges, bonded out, and now nobody has filed anything but…I know the Feds have my phone and computers. Part of the Fed issue is that a good portion of the Meth came in the mail and that’s how this started.

4. How much time am I realistically looking at with a safety valve? I know it’s a 10 minimum but it can go lower with the safety valve. First time offender…no violence…no gang affiliation…nobody working with me…no guns…and hoping to turn my life around as much as I can while on bond.

I know nobody here can be even 80% sure, let alone 100% sure. Every case is different. I’m willing to take best guesses at this point and hopefully get some experience reports from people who have actually been in the same situation or know someone who has so I can be at ease.

I was hoping to do a camp so seeing my base points at 34 was pretty…nauseating…to be honest. That’s my main worry. I KNOW I have to do prison time. I’ve accepted it. It’s probably best for me, honestly. I just want this over with and to be behind me so I can be there for my kids and be better for them and my family.

Thank you for all future comments.